Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-19

An Alleged Letter frsm rsrnsii Ap-
proving she Phcnix.Psrk
Murders.

muE0SEss
LONDON, April 1S.--The alleged let
ter Of Parnell, supposed 10 hayc ocen
addressed to Egan relative to the PiiD.-
nix-Park murders, which the times
published this morning, has caused I'M
mense excitement among au parties.
In an interview to-day Mr.. Clancy, the
Parnellite member for Dublin county,
branded the letter as an infamous con-
coction, and declared that it bears IN
ternsl evidence OF forgery. he SAID,
also, that suspicion was already directed
against certain person as the forger'
An Irish member of Parliament depart
ed for Dublin this morning to compare
the handwriting in the letter attributed
TO Parnell with that Of the person sus-
pected.
THE LETTER.
The letter, which is dated simply
"15, 5, So" without address, is as fol-
lows
Dear Sir,-I am not surprised at
your friends anger, but he and you
should know that to denounce the
murders was the only course open to
us. To do that promptly was. plainly
our best policy. But you can tell him
and all others concerned that though L
regret the accident of Lord +. Caven-
disb's death, / cannot refuse to admit
that Burke got no more than his de-
seTts.
"You are at liberty to show him this
and others whom you can trust also,
but let not my address be known. He
can write to the House of Commons"
The letter fills one side of an ordi-
nary sheet of note-paper. and is in
strange handwriting. "Yours very
truly, Charles s. Parnell, " in Parnell's
writing, is at the top of the other leaf.
The Times suggests that the sigma
ture was thus written SO that it could
be torn off if necessary.
PRESS COMMENTS.
The Globe, commenting on the let
ter. says: "Until the horrible accusa-
ton that Mr.. Parnell wrote tile letter is
proved we shall discredit it.
The Pats Nal gazette says: " Until
the authenticity of the letter shall be
absolutely proved there will be no need
to discuss its contents.
The 81. James Gazette says. :" The
letter is so grave document that 1t
will not do to regard il as genuine until
Mr.. Parnell shall be heard from con-
corning it.
DECLARED TO BE FORGERY.
The lobby of the House is crowded
with members eagerly discussing the
alleged Parnellletter. The Irish MEM
bers Indignantly declare it to be a
forgery. The sensation produced by
its publication has been so great that a
specially large edition issued to meet
the expected demand proved INSULT
ciont. The Times exposed special bull
letins calling attention to the letter,
and sent extra supplies to the railway
news-agents and to the boek-stalls.
The Parnellites all declare the Times
letter an Infamous connection and de-
hberate invention to publicly SANDER
the leaders Of the Home-Rule party.
They say that even on the low ground
of expediercy Parnell would be
the last man in the world
to write q letter containing such
damning admissions. They contend,
therefore, that all reason in the case
proves the letter to i've a forgery on the
face Of it, pointing for proof to the
contents of the document, especially
the writer's warning persons to whom
the letter purpOrted to be written not
to disclose the address while no adj
dress is given. The fact that the sigma
ture is the only part of the letter in
Parnells writing is by itself, the
Home Rulers argue, proof that the
whole thing is fraud, as according to
them, while it would be difficult to OBJ
tain enough specimens of Parnelps
handwriting to enable foIger to imi-
tate it to the extent necessary to sue
cessfully palm off the whole letter as
his. it is not at all difficult to obtain his
signature.
PAREELL WILL DENY.
Parnell, the agent of the Associated
Press is authorized to state, will cate
gorically deny that he wrote the letter.
Parnell will make this denial in the
House of Commons. The editor of the
Times will be summoned to the bar of
the House of Commons to explain the
authorship of the letter.
WHAT PARNELL SAYS.
In an interview to-day Parnell point
ed ont that although at first sight some
of the letters in the TImcs'S ftyc si8,itc
printed this morning appeared to re-
semble his autograph, close compari-
son shows a decided and striking diff
ieronce in many important parts. Par
nell said the letter and signature were
impudent forgeries and that he strong
~ suspected the identity of the forger.
He was undecided whether to prose-
cute the Times or not.